What it is: Vibrant Watch Hill Grenache and dark Sta. Rita Hills Syrah are complemented by unctuous Petit Verdot, a bit of statuesque Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, and plenty of voluptuous Watch Hill Roussanne - as usual, a kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors from all corners of the Santa Ynez Valley, and in this case with the epic energy of the 2020 vintage..

What it’s like: that person whom you’ve fantasized meeting much of your life pulls up the bar stool next to you and says “hello”, Johnny Cash-style, “how’s your day going”? Nervously fixing your hair you think
“well shit, a hell of a lot better now...where’ve you been all my bloody life?...let’s get married and start a new one together”...but you know that slow is better, so you say “I’m good, how are you?”, Betty Davis- style.

Food: As always, the idea behind Optimist is maximum flexibility. This time of year, Optimist’s forward nature would love a Bolognese or mushroom ragout pasta, or one of those epic mortadella sandwiches with the fried egg on top, plus a salad; in the summer, with the top down, just a well-prepared picnic, or a million-dollar burger

Music: Souveraign, Andrew Bird \\ Luna Sea, Vetiver \\ Desolation Row, Bob Dylan \\ Desolation Row, My Chemical Romance (Japan, Live) \\ Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed \\ Simple Twist of Fate, Bob Dylan \\ Love me tenderly, Felice Brothers